BRIDGEPORT -- A fire on the city's East End tore through a four-story apartment building Saturday afternoon, leaving numerous residents homeless.

The fire was reported just before 2 p.m. at 1080 Stratford Ave., near the intersection with Fifth Street, according to Bridgeport Assistant Fire Chief Richard Thode.

"I was home and smelled the smoke and it started coming from all over," said Leroy Nugent, a resident who lives on the second floor. "I was choking on the smoke and once I left, I couldn't go back in."

Nobody was hurt in the fire, according to fire officials. Firefighters who were in the building had to be pulled out of the two-alarm blaze as 100-year-old dry wood complicated the fire.

Property records for the building show it was built in 1902 and is owned by Kapel and Noland Pettway.

Debbie Hardy said she smelled the smoke around 2 p.m. from her home on Baldwin Street, two blocks away.

"I stepped outside to check what was going on and saw there were ashes falling on my porch," she said.

Dozens of bystanders were outside the apartment building, which houses a convenience store and thrift shop on the ground floor, as the fire continued to rage.

At one point, heat from the fire could be felt below as flames shot out of the fourth floor, which later collapsed, fire officials said.

Also complicating matters were downed electrical wires on Fifth Street. Power was turned off on the block and was not expected to be restored until later in the day.

Four engines and two trucks were initially on scene, and that number was later doubled to help combat the blaze. In total, 46 firefighters were called to help control the fire.

The Stratford and Fairfield fire departments were called in to assist with the fire. Milford Fire Rescue was also on scene providing assistance.

As firefighters continued to break windows to help battle the smoldering fire, residents on the street below were left wondering what to do.

"I don't know where I'm going to stay," said resident Gregory Brown. "I'm from South Carolina and I just moved here."

Many residents like Brown said they came home to the building engulfed in smoke or flames.

The Red Cross was later on scene to help firefighters and provide housing for those displaced.

No cause was determined Saturday and fire marshals were on scene investigating.

A fire official estimated a least a dozen people resided in the building, although a firm number was not immediately known.

"All I got left is the clothes I have on," said 66-year-old Robert Bradley.